How do you come out of this game?
I leave very tired! It was very hot, humid... I had a hard time physically. It's true that my body language gave the impression that I was physically marked. But in fact, I was fine. I could still play four hours. I knew he was playing well, I had shit a lot at Bercy (victory in three sets in November, editor's note), I only took jerks in training against him. I'm happy because I stuck to the tactical plan. I played well, I went there when I had to go, so I'm happy. In the tie break, at 4-2, you have to back up and I let go of a crazy forehand long line. You have to try it! It's trust, work. I made millions, billions (in training). You have to start it at this time in the match.
To discover
Australian Open: men's schedule and results
Australian Open: ladies schedule and results
How did you manage the public, part of which was against you?
The public against me, that excited me.
They talked too much, it fed me up and that's good motivation.
At one point (after a winning move), I turned around and said +here take this!+ It helped me because it let me go.
Thanks to them.
But beware !
I like that, I love trash talk, that's all I do."
What does it mean for you to find the quarters in Melbourne, after 2016?
I'm happy, but when you're still in the tournament, you always want to win one more game. I'm already focused on the quarter, to give myself a better chance of maybe making a half. I want to keep pushing and go as far as possible. There, I play well. But to win on Tuesday I will have to play very well. I'm now going to focus on recovering well because I've had a bit of a physical struggle. I have to get to this quarter-final as close to my 100%. Now, I don't intend to stop there. I intend to do everything not to miss this opportunity to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
How do you explain your current good form?
This year, everything is indeed working better, but I must say that the pandemic has been a brake on my career, it has affected me like many people, so it makes sense.
Today, everything is in place, I feel good, my wife is by my side, everything is different.
And the key is to believe in it, to persevere, and above all to spend a lot of time on the court in training.
